Every child deserves someone to take care of them

As a long-time advocate for children’s success, I have become accustomed to conversations from diverse perspectives that shed light on policy issues.

I have also become the target of the frustration of many individuals and organizations who either strongly oppose any change in policy or are unwilling to consider viewpoints if it means limiting their own personal freedoms, even when the greater good is at stake . This has increased with the advent of social media. Over time I got used to it; Finding solutions to legitimate problems is just part of the job.

This was the case when I took part in an interim legislative study examining issues where children “fall through the cracks” when isolated. Far too many families are choosing to pull their children from public, private, charter, or virtual schools to hide abuse under the guise of homeschooling them. Although it is not fair for the homeschool community to be associated with this, the trauma for these abused children is real.

In many cases, these children receive no education and are far too often victims of abuse, neglect, prostitution and sometimes even death. Once discovered, survivors will undergo years of therapy and medical care to help them overcome the trauma they endured.

As the Coalition for Responsible Home Education reports, a 2014 study of child abuse so severe it could be described as child torture found that 47% of victims were taken out of school to be “home-schooled.” become. In many of these cases, expulsion was usually initiated following the completion of a previously ongoing child welfare investigation.

Statistically, the vast majority who choose to homeschool do a good job educating their children, often in ways that public schools cannot. With a specific focus on a few children, these individuals or parent cooperatives can accelerate learning and provide unique learning opportunities for their children.

But homeschooling isn’t for everyone. Most families do not have the time or resources for a parent to take the time necessary to properly complete the task under the Compulsory Education Act, which requires that all children be educated at an appropriate grade level.

But what about the children who have no one to watch over them to ensure that the worst thing humanity can imagine doesn’t happen to them? One case is that of Athena Brownfield, a child who was found dead when a child welfare case was opened against her sister, who was found wandering the streets unattended. Unfortunately, it is common for dozens of children to die in similar circumstances each year and thousands more to fall into the category of abuse.

When I offered to establish a dialogue to examine concerns and find solutions, the reaction online was that their families were being “deprived of rights” and that “the government is bad.” I agree that policies can be too intrusive if not done properly, but that’s usually what happens when the conversations I just mentioned don’t happen.

As an advocacy organization, the mission of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is to shed light on policies that impact children, all children, not just those under state supervision. We can protect proper homeschooling, but we can also find ways to protect children harmed by these laws.

I hope that as the conversation continues with rational voices, more people will join civilly and agree to formulate solutions. If not, I’ll be sure to read all about it on social media.

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Joe Dorman is president and CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy.